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Cisco and B2 Announce Strategic Partnership Cisco Chosen as Preferred Supplier STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Nov. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Bredbandsbolaget (B2), a newSwedish telecommunications company specialising in the provision of broadbandtechnology to the home and Cisco Systems, the worldwide leaders in networkingfor the Internet today announced they have signed an agreement to becomestrategic partners. The partnership represents a major contract win for Cisco and enables B2and Cisco to deliver high speed Internet access services to more than half amillion households in Sweden. B2 and Cisco will work together to develop a range of new broadbandservices for the home, including voice over IP. Cisco and B2 will alsocollaborate on design infrastructure, management support and joint marketinginitiatives. The partnership will provide B2 with significant additional resources andthe benefit of Cisco's extensive commercial expertise. The Boards of Ciscoand B2 believe that the agreement will leave B2 well placed to exploit thepotential of broadband in the home, both in Sweden and across Europe. Peter Ekelund, Chief Executive Officer of B2, said: "Today we have enteredinto a strategic partnership with Cisco, one of the largest and most respectedcompanies in the world, following a comprehensive round of discussions withother vendors of highest calibre. With the increased strength and wealth ofcommercial expertise the partnership brings I am even more confident that B2

will be able to bring the benefits of broadband to consumers as quickly aspossible." Theo Wegbrans, Vice President of Cisco Northern Region EMEA, said: "B2 isan innovative new world service provider bringing new technologies tobusinesses and consumers alike. The consumer focus that B2 has combined withtheir unique vision in the use of broadband technologies will shape newservices and opportunities that consumers across Europe will highly benefitfrom. The partnership combines Cisco's strength in IP with B's capabilitiesin broadband technologies. We are pleased to have sealed the contract win andlook forward to a prosperous working relationship." Notes: 1. Bredbandsbolaget (B2) B2 specialises in the provision of two-way broadband services in Sweden. It was established in the summer of 1998 to fill a gap in the supply of Internet subscriptions available to private persons and households. B2 was set up by Internet consultant Framtidsfabriken (Framfab). B2's other shareholders include Intel, the Carlyle Group, Investor and Novestra. Its web site can be found at www.bredband.com. 2. Cisco Systems Cisco Systems is the world-wide leader in networking for the Internet. For more information, please visit Cisco's web site on www.cisco.com 3. Broadband in Sweden The telecommunications market in Sweden is the most liberalised in Europe. The country is therefore set to gain huge economic and social benefits from the development of this new broadband technology. Bredbandsbolaget is a pioneer in providing low-cost broadband connections to consumers. The company uses inexpensive but powerful technology, developed primarily for local networks for companies, so- called LAN (Local Area Networks). Many cities in Scandinavia have already built LAN. This makes true broadband affordable to individual homes. This technology is less complicated and less expensive than traditional telecommunication technology from telephone operators, offering consumers better performance by at least ten times. B2 has signed letters of intent or closed deals with more than half a million households in Sweden. However, residential demand for broadband services currently far outstrips supply. B2 now hopes to eliminate waiting time. 4. Webcast A webcast is accessible from 16:00 Swedish time, 15:00 UK time atwww.press.bredband.comSOURCE B2 -0- 11/24/1999

/CONTACT: Craig Breheny, cbreheny@brunswickgrpip.com, or Ed Brewster, orebrewster@brunswickgroup.com, both of Brunswick, both for B2 Europe,+44-171-404-5959; or Andrew Honnor, 212-333-3810, orahonnor@brunswickgroup.com, or Lekha Rao, 212-333-3810, orlrao@brunswickgroup.com, both for B2 US; or Imogen Bailey of Cisco Systems,+44-181-756-8219, or imbailey@cisco.com; or Valerie Weisenreder,valerie@bbpr.com, or Cheryl Gale, cheryl@bbpr.com, both for Cisco Systems,+44-171-419-7000/ /Web site: www.bredband.com/

-- LNW009 --2504 11/24/1999 07:39 EST www.prnewswire.com

Copyright PR Newswire 1998. All rights reserved.

Cisco and B2 Announce Strategic Partnership Cisco Chosen as Preferred Supplier STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Nov. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Bredbandsbolaget (B2), a newSwedish telecommunications company specialising in the provision of broadbandtechnology to the home and Cisco Systems, the worldwide leaders in networkingfor the Internet today announced they have signed an agreement to becomestrategic partners. The partnership represents a major contract win for Cisco and enables B2and Cisco to deliver high speed Internet access services to more than half amillion households in Sweden. B2 and Cisco will work together to develop a range of new broadbandservices for the home, including voice over IP. Cisco and B2 will alsocollaborate on design infrastructure, management support and joint marketinginitiatives. The partnership will provide B2 with significant additional resources andthe benefit of Cisco's extensive commercial expertise. The Boards of Ciscoand B2 believe that the agreement will leave B2 well placed to exploit thepotential of broadband in the home, both in Sweden and across Europe. Peter Ekelund, Chief Executive Officer of B2, said: "Today we have enteredinto a strategic partnership with Cisco, one of the largest and most respectedcompanies in the world, following a comprehensive round of discussions withother vendors of highest calibre. With the increased strength and wealth ofcommercial expertise the partnership brings I am even more confident that B2will be able to bring the benefits of broadband to consumers as quickly aspossible." Theo Wegbrans, Vice President of Cisco Northern Region EMEA, said: "B2 isan innovative new world service provider bringing new technologies tobusinesses and consumers alike. The consumer focus that B2 has combined withtheir unique vision in the use of broadband technologies will shape newservices and opportunities that consumers across Europe will highly benefitfrom. The partnership combines Cisco's strength in IP with B's capabilitiesin broadband technologies. We are pleased to have sealed the contract win andlook forward to a prosperous working relationship." Notes: 1. Bredbandsbolaget (B2) B2 specialises in the provision of two-way broadband services in Sweden. It was established in the summer of 1998 to fill a gap in the supply of Internet subscriptions available to private persons and households. B2 was set up by Internet consultant Framtidsfabriken (Framfab). B2's other shareholders include Intel, the Carlyle Group, Investor and Novestra. Its web site can be found at www.bredband.com. 2. Cisco Systems Cisco Systems is the world-wide leader in networking for the Internet. For more information, please visit Cisco's web site on www.cisco.com 3. Broadband in Sweden The telecommunications market in Sweden is the most liberalised in Europe. The country is therefore set to gain huge economic and social benefits from the development of this new broadband technology. Bredbandsbolaget is a pioneer in providing low-cost broadband connections to consumers. The company uses inexpensive but powerful technology, developed primarily for local networks for companies, so- called LAN (Local Area Networks). Many cities in Scandinavia have already built LAN. This makes true broadband affordable to individual homes. This technology is less complicated and less expensive than traditional telecommunication technology from telephone operators, offering consumers better performance by at least ten times. B2 has signed letters of intent or closed deals with more than half a million households in Sweden. However, residential demand for broadband services currently far outstrips supply. B2 now hopes to eliminate waiting time. 4. Webcast A webcast is accessible from 16:00 Swedish time, 15:00 UK time atwww.press.bredband.comSOURCE B2 -0- 11/24/1999

/CONTACT: Craig Breheny, cbreheny@brunswickgrpip.com, or Ed Brewster, orebrewster@brunswickgroup.com, both of Brunswick, both for B2 Europe,+44-171-404-5959; or Andrew Honnor, 212-333-3810, orahonnor@brunswickgroup.com, or Lekha Rao, 212-333-3810, orlrao@brunswickgroup.com, both for B2 US; or Imogen Bailey of Cisco Systems,+44-181-756-8219, or imbailey@cisco.com; or Valerie Weisenreder,valerie@bbpr.com, or Cheryl Gale, cheryl@bbpr.com, both for Cisco Systems,+44-171-419-7000/ /Web site: www.bredband.com/

-- LNW009 --2504 11/24/1999 07:39 EST www.prnewswire.com

Copyright PR Newswire 1998. All rights reserved.

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